Mimili, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mimili South Australia
Mimili Location in South Australia
Population	243 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	0872
Elevation	500 m (1,640 ft)
Location	70 km (43 mi) W of Stuart Highway
LGA(s)	Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara
State electorate(s)	Giles
Federal Division(s)	Grey

Mimili is an Aboriginal community located in the APY Lands in South Australia. It is one of the six main communities in this area. In 2016, about 243 people lived in Mimili.

Before Mimili became an Aboriginal community, it was a cattle station called Everard Park. The South Australian government bought the station in 1972. Later, the land was given back to its traditional owners, the Aboriginal people who have lived there for a very long time.

Time in Mimili

Mimili is in the APY Lands. This area has a special time zone. Unlike the rest of South Australia, it does not use daylight saving time. This is because it has strong connections with the Northern Territory. Mimili follows Australian Central Standard Time (UTC+9:30) all year, just like Darwin.

Where is Mimili?

Mimili is located in South Australia. It is part of the APY Lands. The community is about 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of the Stuart Highway. It is also about 380 kilometers (236 miles) south of Alice Springs. Mimili is surrounded by the rocky Everard Ranges.

History and Meaning

The name Mimili is the original name given by the local Pitjantjatjara people. The community grew around the old Everard Park cattle station. In 1972, the land was returned to its traditional Aboriginal owners.

During the 1980s, the federal government helped fund Mimili. It became known as an outstation. This means it was a smaller community supported by the government.

Special Meaning of Mimili

The area around Mimili, with its mountains, is a very special place for the local Pitjantjatjara people. It is considered a sacred site. They believe it is connected to the maku (witchetty grub) Dreaming story. The maku is even the symbol for the local school.

Weather in Mimili

Mimili has a warm climate. In January, which is summer, the average high temperature is about 37.1°C (98.8°F). In June, which is winter, the average high is around 19.7°C (67.5°F). Nighttime temperatures range from about 21.8°C (71.2°F) in January to 5.0°C (41.0°F) in June. Mimili gets about 222.6 millimeters (8.8 inches) of rain each year.

People of Mimili

In 2016, Mimili had a population of 243 people. Most of the residents, about 69.8%, identified as Aboriginal Australians. Another 2.8% identified as Torres Strait Islanders. Most people (92.5%) were born in Australia.

About 65% of people spoke Pitjantjatjara at home. Only 9.6% spoke only English at home. For those who worked, everyone had a job. About half of them worked part-time. Many worked as managers, community service workers, or professionals.

Community Facilities

Mimili has several important facilities for its residents. There is an airstrip and a health center called Nganampa Health Mayatjar. The community also has council facilities. Diesel generators provide power to the community. Water comes from five bores and is stored in tanks before being pumped to homes.

The Mimili Anangu School has about 60 students. School attendance improved after a swimming pool was built. This pool was a joint project between the Australian and State governments. It opened in 2006.

Mimili was the first community in the APY Lands to create a bush foods garden. This garden helps train students in technical and further education (TAFE) about local plants.

There is a permanent South Australian police station in Mimili, open every day. A mobile voting booth visits Mimili every four years for state elections.

To visit any community in the APY Lands, including Mimili, you need a permit. This is because these lands are owned by the Aboriginal people.

Art and Culture

Mimili is home to Mimili Maku Arts. This is one of ten art centers owned and run by Indigenous people. These centers form the APY Art Centre Collective, which started in 2013. The name "Maku" comes from the witchetty grub Tjukurpa (Dreaming story). This story is often seen in the paintings of famous artists from Mimili. These artists include Betty Kuntiwa Pumani, Ngupulya Pumani, Tuppy Goodwin, and Puna Yanima.

Notable People

• Zaachariaha Fielding, a musician from the band Electric Fields, is from Mimili.